Is Israel quietly planning Gaza strike? Defense chief Katz orders ‘comprehensive plan’ against Hamas

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the IDF to prepare a comprehensive battle plan for the “complete defeat of Hamas” if the Gaza ceasefire collapses and the group refuses to comply with President Trump’s peace agreement. Katz’s directive comes amid growing Israeli frustration over Hamas’s delays in returning the bodies of deceased hostages and concerns that the Trump-backed Gaza deal cannot move to its next phase—including reconstruction and a new governing authority—until all terms are met. According to officials, Trump’s plan demands Hamas hand over every fallen hostage, fully disarm, and allow the destruction of its tunnels and terror infrastructure by Israel and a U.S.-led force to ensure a permanently demilitarized Gaza. Katz warned that if Hamas refuses, Israel—coordinating with the United States—will resume military operations “to achieve the complete defeat of Hamas” and fundamentally change Gaza’s security reality.